Taking issue with Media Watch purpose

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the recent tit-for-tat between Style Weekly and the Chesterfield Observer. Please knock it off; you are both south of the Mason-Dixon line. If one Virginia city can't stop throwing nasty notes over the fence, how are we going to role model for our children that an entire nation can exhibit self-control toward the goal of world peace?

Furthermore, I am curious as to why [Style Weekly Editor] Jason Roop's last sentence began with a conjunction. Let's behave as thoughtful adults, double check our words and spend our precious time more wisely, shall we? You are embarrassing me.

Alice-Ashton Anderson

Midlothian

Dear Editor,

Indianapolis, Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville and now Salt Lake City are touted as some of the most livable and progressive cities/regions in the nation right now. Much of these localities' appeal is due to their relatively low cost of living, business draw, diversity and a strong economy. Why not the Richmond region? I would not overlook the fact that these other areas are also a part of a broader community, including a supporting county. Richmond and other independent cities in the state of Virginia don't have such a make-up.

As a recent transplant to the area, I have been schooled on the history that Richmond, Manchester, Henrico County and Chesterfield County have shared. Looking back several years, I can understand the sometimes bitter relationship that may have existed during those early years of annexation. However, I would like to think that in the year 2008, with the globalization of several of our industries, and the nation's wavering economy, that the relationship between the counties and the city would resemble the salsa dance. There is always one who leads with a subtle gesture, which readies the other partner for the next move and allows for a smooth transition to the next sequence of dance steps. If you're a bystander, the motions may simply look fast and complicated, but when you're dancing with a good partner, fewer things are as fluid.

Instead of seeing that resemblance, I see mudslinging and barriers between the city and the county that is more like the fight dance. (I feel the need to explain that I work in Chesterfield but live just inside the Richmond limits. Not sure if that will ban me from being posted or not.) I find it very unfortunate because I think that this area has much potential. We have the benefit of being geographically centered between the mountains and the beach, the big city and the country. There is such a richness of history. We are unique. The city does not reap the direct benefits of being associated with a county. The county does not reap the direct benefits of having a central city in it. Therefore, we have to be creative in generating progress and appeal to our entire region without isolating ourselves or others. Richmond is the name that the rest of the country generally recognizes, but we all share the task of building this great region into a place that will be recognized along with the aforementioned areas. Let's not turn this into North Korea vs. South Korea.

I want to challenge the Media Watch writer to find something that promotes unity between the city of Richmond and Chesterfield County as opposed to what divides us. (I'm also beginning to wonder if his job is to simply read the Times-Dispatch as opposed to other media outlets.) Let's not turn little molehills of comments in the Richmond Times-Dispatch into mountains of animosity. Yes, Richmond has a role to play in this relationship, but maybe, at least in this respect, Chesterfield should be the one who leads this dance.

Vann Davis

Richmond

The purpose of the Media Watch column is to monitor the local media for accuracy and fairness - its intent is not to address more general issues. Two years ago, we proposed that an independent council be established to perform this function, but the Richmond Times-Dispatch said that wasn't necessary. Editor